Rayon Sports head coach Luc Eymael has tipped his players to win the remaining five Turbo King National Football league matches as the title race enters the final stage.

The Belgian expressed joy after the champions beat their archrivals APR 2-1 on Sunday to go top on goal difference—both teams are level on 49 points but Rayon have scored 44 goals and conceded 19 after 21 games, while the army side have scored 35 goals and conceded 12.

"I am glad that we won this game because it is not easy to defeat APR, they are a very strong team and we need to win this game to keep our title hopes on track. But we need to stay focused in the remaining five games,” Eymael told a post-match press conference.

The former AFC Leopards coach praised his side after dominating the game from start to finish. "I am particularly happy that we dominated them for almost the entire match, it’s not easy top outplay APR but we just did that, so I have to thank all the players because each of the put in a real shit,” Eymael explained before taking a cautious stand.

"But this is not the end of season, we have other five games to play so we need to stay focused and win every single game because to win the league, we have to win all remaining games.”

Midfielder Djamal Mwiseneza opened the scoring for the Nyanza-based side with a well taken shot from the edge of the box after just 13 minutes.

The experienced winger was left unmarked by full back Michel Rusheshangoga and he dribbled past Emery Bayisenge and Ismail Nshutiyamagara before unleashing thunderbolt which went underneath goalie Olivier Kwizera.

APR responded by leveling in the 30th minute with a perfect header from striker Michel Ndahinduka off a brilliant Rusheshangonga cross.

After APR’s equaliser, it was a balanced duel with both sides attacking with intent, but the Blues had the final laugh with left back Abouba Sibomana winning the contest with a sharp drive from the edge of the area in the 41st minute.

Second defeat

"It is unfortunate that we lost to Rayon Sports today.  However, we have to continue to fight until the end, it not over yet. We shall continue working hard and we shall keep our heads high and try to finish what we started,” APR interim coach Vincent Mashami said after his team’s second defeat of the season.

He added, "This result is going to motivate the players to work even harder in the next game and we believe we will do much better in remaining five matches.” With the country heading into the Genocide commemoration week (April 7-13), the next round of the league games will be played on the weekend of April 19-20 when Rayon Sports take on Etincelles and APR will be up against Musanze.